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B.C. premier hopeful De Jong visits Creston

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong — currently running against five others to become leader of the BC Liberals — stopped in Creston for a meet-and-greet at the Creston Valley Cham-ber of Commerce on Tuesday.
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Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong visited Creston on Tuesday to promote his bid to become leader of the BC LIberals.

Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong — currently running against five others to become leader of the BC Liberals — stopped in Creston for a meet-and-greet at the Creston Valley Cham-ber of Commerce on Tuesday.

About a dozen people attended the session, which started with de Jong outlining his goals if he should become leader and, therefore, premier.

In addition to reducing the cabinet to under 20 members and encouraging export of forest products, one goal is to rein in the government’s spending — promises to increase spending are flawed, in his opinion.

“Any promises made, in my view, involve reallocating money from elsewhere,” he said.

He also said that he would promote the harmonized sales tax and move the Sep-tember referendum to June, as well as allow cabinet ministers to do their job without getting in their way.

“Don’t be surprised if a reporter sticks a microphone in my face and asks a question and I say, ‘Go ask the minister,’ ” he said.

De Jong is the former minister of forests, labour and citizens’ services, and aboriginal relations and reconciliation, as well as attorney and solicitor general.